How do I sand and paint wrought iron?

Use sandpaper, a wire brush, or a wire brush drill attachment to remove all the rust and loose paint. (NOTE: Wear an approved dust mask or respirator when removing paint or spray painting.) Blow off or vacuum the piece to remove as much dust as possible. Use mineral spirits on a cloth to clean the surface of the wrought iron. Apply a coat of rust inhibiting primer to all surfaces. Apply two coats of paint for metal to all the surfaces.

Depending on the size and how intricate it is you may want to look at having it sandblasted. It would at least be worth your time to call around and get some quotes.

Hi Dawn, in addition to the great comments above, you should always make sure to wear safety glasses and wear a dust mask when sanding. Also, make sure you plan enough time to do the project start to finish as oxidation starts quickly and you may have to sand again if you sand one day and paint another day. This happened to me with an antique wrought iron bench.

Good luck!

Wrought iron is generally sand-blasted to get the old paint off. If you are going to paint it yourself, I would suggest spray primer and paint.